How to Read the Bible: Symbolic vs Literal

Jonathan Pageau returns to explore the symbolic meaning behind Christianity, evil, gender confusion, and why civilizations collapse at the height of abundance.

In the conversation, Aaron respectfully challenges aspects of Christian doctrine, asking hard questions about hell, salvation, and religious exclusivity.

OUR GUEST

Jonathan Pageau is a professional artist, writer, and public speaker based in Quebec, Canada. He specializes in carving Orthodox Christian icons and designing traditional sacred images and products. Through his YouTube channel and podcast, The Symbolic World, he explores how symbolic patterns inform our experiences of the world and can re-enchant contemporary life.

Jonathan is the founder of Symbolic World Press, a publishing house dedicated to the renewal of culture through storytelling and rediscovering symbolic thinking. The Press publishes works such as the Tales for Now & Ever fairy tale series—which includes The Tale of Snow White and the Widow Queen, Jack and the Fallen Giants, and the most recent publication now available for pre-order, Rapunzel and the Evil Witch—as well as the GodsDog graphic novel series and other books. The Press also hosts online courses led by Jonathan and other influential thinkers such as Dr. Martin Shaw, Fr. Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, and Prof. John Vervaeke, covering topics from storytelling and literature to cognitive science and philosophy.

In addition, the Symbolic World website features a community forum and a contributor-driven blog that deepen engagement with symbolic thinking. Jonathan has written extensively on artistic and religious symbolism, including hundreds of articles for the Orthodox Arts Journal.\

JONATHAN PAGEAU

🐤 X ▶ https://x.com/PageauJonathan

🌍 WEB ▶ https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/

AARON ALEXANDER

📸 IG ▶ https://www.instagram.com/aaronalexander/

🤳 TIKTOK ▶ https://www.tiktok.com/@alignmethod

👉 SUBSCRIBE ▶ https://www.youtube.com/@AlignPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 WEBSITE ▶ https://www.alignpodcast.com

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:07 Who or What Is God?

03:30 Is Christianity Making a Comeback?

05:12 How to Read the Bible Symbolically

08:00 What Is Hell?

16:16 Do You Have to Accept Jesus to Go to Heaven?

24:32 What Does It Mean That God Is Jealous?

27:05 What Are the Modern Idols?

30:18 Why Does Evil Exist?

40:24 Why Do Civilizations Collapse at Peak Abundance?

45:32 What’s the Symbolic Meaning of Gender Confusion?

50:44 The Power of Fiction

01:00:12 Can You Ever Stop Being a Sinner?

ABOUT

Aaron Alexander is a pioneering manual therapist and movement coach with over 5 years experience. He is the founder and creator of The Align Method, author of The Align Method book, and host of The Align Podcast which has ranked #1 in Nutrition on Apple Podcasts.

Aaron has worked with some of the world’s greatest professional athletes, performers, and celebrities to help relieve pain, improve strength, better flexibility, and ease the mind and body.

On this channel, Aaron interviews renowned experts in a range of fields focused on improving the mind and body. This mind and body podcast will teach you all that you need to know to become the healthiest version of yourself by integrating simplified ancient techniques and the foundational principles of The Align Method to strengthen your body, balance the mind, and activate healing systems in daily life.

The mission? To be the best personal growth podcast about healthy habits, redefine functional movement, and make fitness who you are; not what you do.

TOPICS1. Symbolism and Religion2. Meaning of Hell3. Christianity and Modern Culture4. Collapse of Civilizations5. Evil as Misalignment6. Gender Identity and Culture7. Fairy Tales and Storytelling

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